Claire RobertsonThe South Carolina General Assembly recently approved a $200 million increase in the budget for bridge projects statewide. The additional funds boost the total program budget for bridge replacements and rehabilitations to $439 million for this year.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will dedicate the new funding in equal portions – $100 million for bridges on interstate routes and $100 million for bridges on secondary roads.
“Our bridges in South Carolina connect communities together. They carry first responders to emergencies, our children and grandchildren to school, and our products to market,” Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell said. “It is critical that we maintain our bridge network and today is another step towards ensuring we have a transportation system in South Carolina that is built for the bright future ahead.”
SCDOT has started or completed construction on 352 of the 500 bridge projects outlined in its Strategic 10 Year Plan. The plan allocates $228 million to bridge projects annually through 2032. Each year, $45 million will be spent on repair projects, $25 million for bridge inspections, $23 million for ongoing maintenance, and $19 million is designated for reactionary maintenance following damage.
An interactive map is available to view the 2024 bridge program.
The additional funds for this year will advance high-priority projects that are expected to start soon, including the $350 million replacement of four bridges that span Lake Marion.
The Interstate-95 bridges were built in 1968 and could deteriorate to the point of requiring load restriction as early as next year. The I-95 bridge replacement project will replace four bridges with a single span with four 12-foot lanes, two each traveling north and south. The travel lanes will be separated by two 10-foot shoulders on either side of a raised median. A 14-foot shared use path will be constructed for pedestrians and cyclists and separated from the roadway by a barrier. The bridge may be expanded to accommodate an additional travel lane in each direction. The existing bridges will remain open during construction to avoid significant closures. SCDOT plans to begin construction next year.
The additional funds could also allow officials to include bridge projects that were not in the original program, such as improvements on the East Coast Greenway in the Grant Strand, Charleston and Lowcounty areas. The total estimated project cost is $3.5 million.
SCDOT will accept public comments on amending the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program through Aug. 8. Amendments will include preliminary engineering, right of way and construction for additional bridge projects.
Photo by Pollinator
